Shoe upper shaping machine



March 7, 1967 P. LAURETTI SHOE UPPER SHAPING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 4, 1965' I n v e n i o r Piacentino Laure tai By WM his AHorney P. LAURETTI SHOE UPPER SHAPING MACHINE March 7, 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 4, 1963 Inventor; Picncentino Lauretti wZW-W FIG. 2

his Attorney March 7, 1967 P. LAURETTI SHOE UPPER SHAPING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 In v e n10 r:

Piacentino Lauretti Filed Oct. 4, 1963 his Attorney March 7, 1967 P. LAURETTI SHOE UPPER SHAPING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 4, 1963 FIG. 6

FIG. 8

Inven Piacentino Lauretti his Attorney March 7, 1967 LAURETTI 3,307,210

SHOE UPPER SHAPING MACHINE Filed Oct. 4, 1963 e Sheets-Shet 5 FIG. 9

Inve nio r:

Piacentino Lauretti his Attorney P. LAURETTl SHOE UPPER SHAPING MACHINE March 7, 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Oct. 4, 1963 FIG. M

FIG. 15

In v e n i o r:

Piacentino Lcwretti FIG. 12

United States Patent 3,307,210 SHOE UPPER SHAPING MACHINE Piacentino Lauretti, RD. 2, Newville, Pa. 17241 Filed Oct. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 313,987 13 Claims. (Cl. 128.2)

This invention relates to machines for shaping shoe uppers.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved machine for shaping a shoe upper whereby creasing or cutting of the upper is readily avoided.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shaping machine for molding and flanging a shoe upper wherein the molding and flanging means are so related as to prevent distortion of a shaped upper during its release.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a machine for shaping a shoe upper wherein the actions of the moving parts that engage the upper in a shaping operation can be varied to suit particular conditions and techniques.

A further object of the invention is to provide an upper-shaping machine wherein the pressure applied for molding the upper is both cushioned and controlled.

Another object of the invention is to provide an uppershaping machine wherein the parts adapted to engage an upper in a shaping operation are so mounted as to be readily removable either for repair or for replacement by interchangeable parts to make uppers of difierent size or shape.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an upper-shaping machine having fixed and movable molds wherein the movable mold and its mounting are removable as a unit without the use of tools.

Another object of the invention is to provide in an upper-shaping machine an outer or female mold having hinged jaws so constructed and arranged as to apply pressure uniformly to the back of an upper as the jaws close on the inner or male mold and thus avoid any tendency of the applied pressure to crease or otherwise damage the back.

A further object of the invention is to provide in an upper-shaping machine an outer mold which, despite being jointed at the back, presents an uninterrupted face to an upper and applies pressure uniformly to the back thereof as it closes about the associated inner mold.

Another object of the invention is to provide in an upper-shaping machine an outer mold formed of jointed, rigid jaws and a flexible liner which are so constructed and arranged that the liner can he slid into and out of position without interfering with its effectiveness in the operation of the machine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter in the detailed description, be particularly pointed out in the appended claims and be illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the upper-shaping machine of the present invention with the flanging means in retracted position;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the shaping assembly of the machine, removed from the stand and with both the outer mold and the wipers in their advanced positions;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the assembly of FIGURE 2, but with the outer mold and wipers in their retracted positions and with portions broken away and shown in section to more clearly illustrate certain of the details of construction;

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view of the assembly of FIGURE 2 with portions broken away and shown in section to more clearly illustrate certain of the details of construction;

FIGURE 5 is a rear elevational view of the assembly of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along lines 66 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along lines 7-7 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of the assembly of FIGURE 2, with the outer mold in advanced position, the wiper assembly removed and portions broken away and shown in section to more clearly illustrate certain of the details of construction;

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of the structure of FIGURE 3 with the outer mold in retracted position;

FIGURE 10 is a side elevational view of the wiper assembly;

FIGURE 11 is a side elevational view of the outer mold assembly;

FIGURE 12 is a central vertical sectional view of the housing of the assembly of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 13 is a side elevational view of the inner mold;

FIGURE 14 is an isometric view of the liner for the outer mold; and

FIGURE 15 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale of one of the operating valves.

Referring now in detail to the drawings in which like reference characters designate like parts, the improved machine of the present invention is designed to shape uppers of shoes and particularly the back or heel parts of uppers, including, if desired, the counters. In keeping with shoe-making practice, the improved machine of this invention is designed in sequence to mold and flange an upper and then hold the upper under pressure and heat until its shape is set.

The basic components of the improved upper-shaping machine of this invention are a mold and wiper or shaping assembly 1 and means for operating the moving parts of the assembly. Depending on the output desired, there may be a plurality of such assemblies suitably mounted for movement past an operators station. However, in the form illustrated as exemplary of the invention, the machine has only one shaping assembly for enabling it to shape one upper at a time; and the assembly and its operating means are bolted or otherwise fixed or stationarily mounted on a suitable stand 2, which, as illus trated, may be formed simply of a platform 3 mounted at a convenient height on a post or column 4.

The shaping assembly or shaper 5 is comprised of a housing 6 bolted or otherwise stationarily mounted on the platform 3 and an inner male mold, shaping form or plug 7, an outer or female mold 8, and wipers 9, all mounted on or carried by the housing. The preferred housing 6 is open-topped and -ended and has a bottom wall 10 resting or supported on the platform 3 and laterally or transversely spaced, longitudinally extending side walls 11 upstanding from and preferably integral with the bottom wall. To facilitate insertion and removal of an upper, indicated at 12, the inner mold 7 is mounted upright adjacent the front end and substantially midway laterally between the side walls 11 of the housing. In the operation of the machine, the inner mold 7 is held rigidly in position in a seat or socket 13 in the bottom wall 10, in which its base 14 fits or seats, by suitable locking means, such as the illustrated bolt 15 carried by and depending from the base. For removal of the inner mold 7 and to permit it to be shifted longitudinally of the housing, the base 14 of the mold preferably is backed by backing plates 16 of the housing and partly closing the front end of the seat 13 and the bolt 15 is received in a forwardly opening, longitudinally elongated opening or slot 17 in the bottom wall. As usual in shaping machines, the inner mold is designed to be heated to assist in setting the shape of an upper and for this purpose has inset in it an electrical heating element 18.

With the inner mold 7 so stationarily mounted in the housing 6 and the outer mold 8 movable longitudinally relative to it, the machine is designed in a shaping operation to have an upper 12 applied, upside down, over the shaped or contoured back, shaping or upper-engaging surface 19, with a part or marginal portion or flange 20 projecting thereabove, at a time when both the outer mold and the wipers are in their retracted positions. In sequence, first the outer mold 8 and then the Wipers 9 are driven forward or advanced, the outer mold to receive and close or clamp on the inner mold 7 and press the upper 12 thereagainst and the wipers to engage the marginal part 20 of the upper and press or turn it over the preferably flat top 21 of the inner mold to form an inturned'bottom or heel flange to which a heel is later attached. After a time suflicient to set the shape of the upper 12 and its heel flange 20, under the applied pressure and heat, the outer mold and wipers are retracted or withdrawn and the shaped upper is then removed.

The operating means for driving or moving the outer mold 8 and wipers 9 between their retracted or rearward and advanced or forward positions, may be any means capable of producing the required reciprocable, longitudinal or translational movements of these members and, by the use of suitable connections for driving them in sequence, both members can be driven by the same operating means. However, it will ordinarily be found preferable that the outer mold and wipers at least be advanced by separate operating means and for this purpose the illustrated pair of air or other fluid-actuated pistons, horizontally mounted in superimposed relation on the platform, the lower 22 for the outer mold and the upper 23 for the wipers, is well suited. The ends of the cylinders 24 and 25 of the outer mold and wiper pistons 22 and 23, respectively, to which air or other fluid is applied for determining the direction of movement of the pistons, are selectively controlled by suitable control means, such as the illustrated mechanically actuated valves 26, which, to free the hands of an operator for applying and removing an upper, are separately actuated by individual treadles 27.

The outer mold 8 is mounted or carried on a carriage 28, which, with the mold, forms part of an outer mold or jack assembly 29. The carriage 28 of this assembly 29 includes a pair of separate slide plates or slides mounted one above the other or in superimposed relation in the housing 6, one, a lower slide plate 30 pivotally connected at the rear to the outer mold piston 22 and the other an upper slide plate 31 mounting or carrying the outer mold 8. The lower and upper slide plates 30 and 31 are horizontally disposed and slideable separately in vertically spaced lower and upper pairs of channels, grooves, slideways or guideways 32 and 33, respectively, formed in or interrupting the inner faces 34 of the side walls 11 of the housing.

The forming of the carriage 28 of a pair or plurality of slide plates 30 and 31, rather than one, has two main objectives. One is to enable the upper slide plate 31 and the outer mold 8 to be removed as a unit without disturbing the connection of the carriage 28 to the mold piston 22, either for repair or for replacement by an the upper plate 31 is releasably attached to the lower plate 30, preferably by a spring or resilient latch or connecting tongue 35 which is attached to and projects rearwardly from the underside of the upper plate 31 and toward its rear or free end bears downwardly against the lower plate 30 and is lost-motion connected thereto by a pin 36 on and upstanding from the lower plate and riding in a longitudinally elongated slot 37 in the latch. With the plates so pin-and-slot connected, lifting of the free end of the latch 35 sufficiently to free the pin 36 from the slot 37 will disconnect the upper plate 31 and enable it and the outer mold 8 to be removed as a unit.

The same pin-and-slot connection 36 and 37 also connects the upper and lower plates 31 and 30 for rearward movement substantially in unison on the retract stroke of the mold piston 22. However, on the advance stroke of the piston 22, force is transmitted between the plates through a rib-reinforced or buttressed lug or abutment 38 integral with or fixed to and upstanding from the lower plate and spaced rearwardly from and facing forwardly toward the upper plate 31. On the front face 39 of the lug 38 are carried resilient compression means, preferably in the form of a pair of horizontally directed or acting, coil springs 40 arranged side by side on opposite sides of the centerline of the housing 6 and acting forwardly against the back or rear face 41 of a mounting bracket 42 bolted or otherwise fixed to and upstanding from the upper plate 31. For both holding them in place on the lug 38 and limiting their expansion when the upper plate 31 is removed, the springs 40 have caps 43 on their front ends which are centrally socketed to project into the springs and receive connecting bolts 44 threaded into the lug.

Flanged at the sides for connection to the upper plate 31, the bracket 42, against the back 41 of which the springs 40 bear, has integrally formed therewith a pair of laterally spaced, forwardly projecting arms 45 preferably disposed at opposite sides of and equidistant from the centerline of the housing 6. It is on these arms 45 adjacent their front ends that the outer mold 8 is mounted. The outer mold is a longitudinaly split or divided, jointed mold having as a rigid backing a pair of rigid jaws 46 disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline of the housing 6. Each of the jaws 46 is pivoted, hinged or fulcrummed intermediate its longitudinal extremities to one of the arms 45 adjacent the latters front end, the pivots 47 being vertical or normal to the bottom wall 10 of the housing for enabling the jaws to swing releltive to each other, horizontally or parallel to that wa The jaws 46 have outwardly flared front ends 48 and, rearwardly thereof, together define a forwardly opening aperture or opening 49 in which the inner mold 7 is re ceived or seated in a shaping operation and which, when the jaws are closed or clamped on the inner mold, conforms in peripheral contour to the back or shaping surface 19 of the inner mold. The aperture 49 extends rearwardly preferably to a point substantially in lateral alignment with the pivots 47 'and the jaws at the back of the aperture are spaced laterally at all times to define there between a rearwardly extending, forwardly opening recess 50 extending the full height of the outer mold 8. The gap in the jaws 46 formed by this recess normally is bridged, covered or closed by a liner 51 which covers the front ends 48 of the jaws and extends therefrom con tinuously around the aperture to provide the latter with an uninterrupted surface.

The liner 51, as 'a whole, is flexible to follow the movements of the jaws 46 between open and closed positions and is attached or secured at the sides to the jaws, conveniently by screws 52 threaded through the sides of the jaws into leather or like, side or positioning ribs, wings or blocks 53 which are fixed to or rigid with and? outstand laterally from oppposite sides of the liner and fit or seat in correspondingly positioned slots 54 in and interrupting the inner faces 55 of the jaws at the sides of the aperture 49. The liner 51 preferably is plural-lay ered, with a facing 56 of heat-resistant, smooth, slippery or lubricious material, such as, Teflon, for easy sliding over an upper and a resilient backing 57 of leather, rub er or like suitable material, leather generally being pre ferred for its relative lack of shrinkage.

The liner 51 also has fixed or secured to or made rigid with it a bearing block 58 which is positioned cen trally of and coextensive in height with the inner and projects or extends rearwardly therefrom. Adapted to seat or be received in the recess 50 between the jaws 46 at the back of the aperture 49 the bearing block 58 has a rear face or surface 59 which is directed vertically or normal to the bottom wall of the housing 6 and preferably is flat or planar and normal or perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline of the housing. The bearing block 58 conforms at the front to the back of the liner 51 and in the main is made of leather or like resilient material, but for wear resistance appropriately has its rear face 59 formed on an angle or L-shaped wear plate 64 covering the back and bottom of the main part of the block and cemented or otherwise secured thereto.

The rear face 59 of the bearing block 58 is adapted to be engaged or contacted constantly over its entire height by a pair of rounded or, as illustrated, pointed or knife-edged, pressure or bearing shoulders or abutments 61, one formed on a rear part or projection 62 of each of the jaws 46. Laterally aligned and forwardly projecting or directed and disposed rearwardly of the pivots 47, the bearing shoulders 61 extend or are directed vertically or normal to the bottom wall 10 of the housing and contact the rear face 59 of the bearing block 58 along lines that, whatever their spacing, are parallel to the pivots.

Since the liner 51 is connected only at the sides to the jaws 46 and loose at the back, the sliding engagement of the bottom flange 63 of the wear plate 60 on the bearin g block 58 with the underlying upper slide plate 31 positions the liner at the rear relative to the jaws. For fine vertical adjustment of this position, as well as to compensate for wear in the bottom flange 63, there is provided in the upper plate 31 therebelow an adjusting screw 64 for shifting the liner at the back upwardly or away from the plate. Conveniently, the rear parts or rearward projections 62 of the jaws 46 may be of L-shape and inturned at the rear to bound or contain the recess 50 and provide confronting, inwardly directed fiat stop faces 65 which are rearward of the pressure shoulders 61 adapted to abut or engage on spreading of the jaws 46 for limiting the extent of such spreading.

With the pressure shoulders 61 and rear face 59 of the bearing block 58 in constant contact by virtue of the parallelism of their line contacts to the pivots 47, any forces transmitted between the shoulders and the block will be distributed uniformly throughout the height of the liner 51 over the area of the back thereof backed by the bearing block, thus ensuring against creasing or cutting of an upper at the back during shaping. In addition, since the shoulders 61 will swing inwardly as the front ends 48 of the jaws 46 swing outwardly and vice versa, the reactance of the inner mold 7 against the back of the liner 51, as it seats in the outer mold 8, will act through the bearing block 58 and the shoulders and, by virtue of the disposition of the shoulders rearward and inward of the pivots 47, exert the force necessary to close the jaws 46 on the inner mold without resort to the cams or other extraneous means employed in conventional split molds.

The pivotal connections between the jaws 46 and their pivots 47 are made through bent or angle levers 66 which are integral or rigid with and outstand laterally from the jaws and have their laterally extending parts or arms 67 pivoted intermediate their ends to the forwardly projecting arms 45 of the mounting bracket 42. The second pair of arms 68 of the bent levers 66 project or extend rearwardly from the outer ends of the first pair and mount at the rear rollers 69 for engagement with cams 70 attached and longitudinally adjustable relative to the side walls 11 of the housing 6 and instanding from their inner faces 34. It is this camming action of the earns 70 on the rollers 69 that is depended upon to open or spread the jaws 46 on the completion of a shaping operation. However, it is desirable that the jaws be substantially closed but under light pressure as the inner mold 7 approaches its seat in the outer mold 8 at the outset of a shaping operation so as to smooth out the upper on the inner mold. To this end, there is pivotally connected to each of the bent levers 66 adjacent the outer end of its inner or lateral arm 67 an eye bolt or rod 71 extending substantially longitudinally of the housing through a longitudinally apertured support to stop bracket 72 mounted on the upper slide plate 31 of the outer mold carriage 28. Forwardly of their support brackets 72, the bolts 71 carry coil or like return springs 73, which, by acting between the support brackets 72 and nuts or retainers 74 on the free ends of the bolts, yieldably resist opening of the aws.

By contrast with the main or molding springs 40 controlling the molding pressure, the return springs 73 are relatively weak and adapted only to exert a light closing pressure on the jaws 46 and therethrough on the sides of an upper 12 on the inner mold 7, over the range of longitudinal movement of the outer mold 8 between the positions in which it fully seats the inner mold and the jaws are positively opened by engagement of the rollers 69 with the cams 70. The bolts 71 mounting the return springs 73 also are employed to limit the extent of closing of the jaws and thus limit, as desired, the pressure applied to the sides of the upper. This is accomplished by providing on the bolts 71, rearwardly of the support brackets 72 adjusting nuts 75 settable to engage the support brackets on a predetermined closing of the jaws.

While the relatively Weak return springs 73 will hold the jaws 46 substantially closed, except when they are opened by engagement of the rollers 69 with the cams 70, the molding force on the jaws is applied through the springs 40 carried by the lug 38 on the lower slide plate 30 and acting between the lug and the mounting bracket 42 on the upper slide plate 31. The advance stroke of the outer mold piston 22 is so regulated as to stop that stroke on a predetermined compression of the main springs 40. As a result, it is the resistance of the main springs to such compression, rather than the force applied by the piston, that controls or determines the pressure exerted between the inner and outer molds 7 and 8, a spring force of around 800 pounds having been found particularly suited for the purpose.

As previously mentioned, the lost-motion connection between the upper and lower slide plates or parts 31 and 30 of the mold carriage 28, formed by the connecting pin 36 on the lower plate and the slot 37 in spring latch 35 on the upper plate, is the connection responsible for enabling the retractive or tensile force applied by the mold piston 22 to the lower plate to disengage the outer mold 8 from the inner mold 7 at the completion of a shaping operation. Since the resistances to retraction of the mold carriage 28 are frictional, the tensile forces on the pin 36 are small and the elongation of the slot 37 is made such as not only to relieve the pin of any compressive forces but to enable the latch 35 to be connected to the pin without substantial compression of the springs 40.

The longitudinal or reciprocal movement of the preferred wipers or wiper blades 9 relative to the housing 6, required to enable them to flange an upper 12 by inturning the marginal part 20 projecting above the inner mold 7 over the top 21 of the latter, is obtained by mounting the wipers as part of a wiper assembly 76, on a wiper carriage 77, which in turn is slideably mounted in or on the housing 6. As opposed to the mold carriage 28, the wiper carriage 77 is formed of a single slide plate or slide disriage. wiper carriage 77, the downturned flange 88 thereon, on

posed and slideable horizontally or parallel to the bottom wall of the housing. Mounted above the outer mold 8, the wiper carriage on top slide plate 77 is tongued at the sides for a sliding fit in a top pair of grooves, channels or guideways 78 formed in and interrupting the inner faces 34 of the side walls 11 of the housing adjacent the walls top or upper edges 79.

Each generally L-shaped, the preferred pair of wipers 9 is supported on or suspended from the underside of the top plate 77 by a common or single pivot pin, bolt or pivot 80 directed vertically or normal to the bottom wall 10 of the housing 6 and positioned on the longitudinal centerline of the housing and adjacent the rear ends of the wipers. Rigid and swingable, hingeable or pivotable relative to each other, substantially horizontally or parallel to the housings bottom wall 10, the wipers 9 together present verticall spaced, horizontally disposed, flat or planar upper and lower faces 81 and 82, respectively, the upper of which slide or wipe against and are backed by a correspondingly disposed, flat or planar undersurface 83 on the top plate 77. Forwardly of the pivot 80, the wipers 9, by their preferably blunt or rounded, inner or upper-engaging edges 84, together bound or define a forwardly opening aperture or opening 85 for receiving the upwardly projecting part of an upper 12 on the inner mold 7.

The inner or confronting edges 84 of the wipers 9 in contour follow somewhat the inner faces 55 of the jaws 46. However, as opposed to the jaws, the wipers, as they move toward forward or flanging position relative to the inner mold 7, preferably are spread or open sufficiently to make their first contact with the projecting part 20 of the upper 12 at the back or rear of the aperture 85 and thereafter, in the final increment of the forward movement into flanging position, engage and close over the sides of the upper. Thus, the wipers act inwardly on contact, substantially over the entire periphery of the projecting part of the upper, to turn the part inwardly over the top 21 of the inner mold. To enable this operation to be observed there desirably is formed in the top plate 77 above the wipers 9, a forwardly opening observation slot 86 which overlies and conforms generally to the contour of the aperture 85 between the wipers when the latter are open. The marginal or heel flange 20, so formed on the upper 12, is set in its shape by the combination of the heat applied through the inner mold 7 and the pressure exerted by the top plate 77 through the wipers 9 on the flange and against the top 21 of the inner mold,

Once an upper has been shaped by the heat on the inner mold 7 and the pressures exerted against the inner mold 7 by the outer mold 8 and the wipers 9, it is desirable that pressures be withdrawn simultaneously by concurrent retraction of the mold and wiper carriages 28 and 77, so as to avoid distortion of the shaped upper during its release. This is accomplishable by connecting each of the carriages 28 and 75 to the related piston 22 or 23, so that it can be both pushed and pulled thereby, and simultaneously retracting the pistons. However, better control is obtainable by connecting only the mold carriage 28 to the mold piston 22 for both pushing and pulling, in the manner heretofore described, and utilizing the wiper piston 23 only to provide the delayed advanced or forward movement of the wiper carriage, with a connection between the carriages for enabling them to be withdrawn together by retraction of the mold piston. For this purpose, there is on and fixed to or integral with the wiper carriage or top plate 77 a tall or rearward projection 87 which is downturned at the rear to provide a downturned .or downstanding flange or finger 88 vertically overlapping and adapted to abut or engage the back of the upstanding lug 38 on the bottom plate 34 of the mold carriage 28 in the forward or flanging position of the wiper car- Serving to limit the forward movement of the retraction of the mold carriage 28, enables the mold piston 22 to act on both carriages and cause them to retract simultaneously or in unison. With the wiper carriage 77 so retractable, the wiper piston 23 acts only as a pusher, conveniently by providing it with a leather or like resilient head 89 engageable with a confronting, rearwardly facing abutment or shoulder 90 fixed to or rigid or integral with and upstanding from the top plate 77.

Contact with the projecting or marginal part 20 of an upper 12 producing no longitudinal force of any consequence, some other medium must be employed to close the Wipers 9 over the top 21 of the inner mold 7. In the illustrated embodiment, these means are a pair of generally L-shaped or angle earns 91 mounted on the underside of the top plate 77 at opposite sides and adjacent the front ends of the wipers 9 and each having an inner or longitudinally extending leg 92 pivoted at the front to the top plate and lying against or abutting the outer edge 93 of the adjoining wiper. The other legs 94 of the cams 91 extend outwardly, laterally, through slots 95 in the side walls 96 of the top plate 77, over the up per edges 79 of the side walls 11 of the housing 6 in position to engage stop lugs or ribs 97 mounted on and upstanding from the housings side walls as the wiper carriage 77 approaches its forward or flanging position. Pivotable or swingable horizontally or parallel to or in the plane of the wiper 9 and parallel to the bottom Wall 11 of the housing, the cams 91, on engagement of their outstanding or outer legs 94 with the stop lugs 97, swing or turn inwardly on their pivots and, through their inner legs 92, act on the outer edges 93 of the wipers and exert thereagainst a camming force which, since applied forwardly of the wiper pivot 80, causes the wipers to close over the top 21 of the inner mold 7. Conversely, when not engaging the stop lugs 97, the cam limit the relative outward movement or spreading of the wipers 9.

The cams 91 apply a positive force to close the Wipers 9 and the point of application of this force, in the advance of the wiper carriage 77, is made variable by providing in their mountings for limited adjustment of the stop lugs 97 along or longitudinally of the side walls 11 of the housing. It, therefore, is necessary only to provide in addition means for opening the wipers on the completion of a shaping operation and holding them open at the outset of a subsequent operation. These means in the illustrated embodiment are a pair of straight levers 98 pivotally mounted intermediate or midway of their ends for pivoting parallel to the wipers 9 on the upper side of the top plate 77 and over or above the side walls 96 thereof.

The inner legs 99 of the levers 98 are normally urged rearwardly by return springs 100 acting longitudinally of the housing on the levers inner ends and anchored rearwardly thereof to the top plate. The levers 98 transmit this yieldable force to the wipers 9, for normally holding the latter open, through studs or screws 101 threaded or fixed to and upstanding from the wipers adjacent the outer rear corners thereof and projecting upwardly through arcuate slots 102 in the top plate 77. However, lest the friction between the wipers and the top plate prevent the wipers from opening fully on completion of a shaping operation under the relatively weak force of the springs 100, means are provided for positively opening the wipers in the form of stop posts or pins 103 upstanding from the side walls 11 of the housing 6 and positioned rearwardly of and engageable with the outer legs 104 of the levers as the wiper carriage 77 moves toward retracted position. On contact of the levers 98 with the posts 103, the tensile force, applied through the mold carriage 28 to the wiper carriage 77, forces the inner legs 99 of the levers to swing rearwardly and apply through the studs 101 a positive opening force on the wipers. Like the stop lugs 97, the posts 103 are preferably mounted for longitudinal adjustment, in their case on the upper edges 79 of the side walls 11 of the housing 6, so as to enable the point of application of the positive opening force on the wipers to be varied at will.

In summary, in shaping an upper 12 with the shaping machine of this invention the upper is applied upside down to the inner mold 7 with a marginal part 20 projecting above the top 21 of the mold. The mold carriage 28 carrying the outer mold 8, which at that time is in its retracted position, is then advanced by the molding piston 22 by releasing the latters treadle 27. As it advances, the outer mold 8 engages the upper lightly at the sides to smooth it on the inner mold and in its continued advance engages the upper by the back of the liner 51. Thereupon, the force, exerted between the backs of the inner mold and the liner, acts through the bearing block 58 on the back of the liner and, by the contact of the rear face 59 of the block with the forwardly facing bearing shoulders 61 on the jaws 46, causes the jaws to fulcrum on their pivots 47 and close at the sides against the inner mold. With the upper thus held between the inner and outer molds 7 and 8 under a molding pressure determined by the main springs 40, the Wiper carriage 77 in its turn is advanced by the wiper piston 23 with the wipers initially open. After contact with the projecting part 20 of the upper 12, the wipers 9 are finally forced to close over the top 21 of the inner mold 7 by the action of the cams 91, in process inturning the projecting part of the upper over the inner mold and forming its bottom or heel flange. The pressures applied by the outer mold 8 and the Wipers 9 against the upper on the inner mold 7 are maintained as long as necessary to shape the upper in the presence of the heat supplied through the inner mold and the outer mold and wipers are then withdrawn together by the retraction of the mold piston 22 by operation of its treadle, the wiper piston 23 having previously been retracted to get it out of the way. On this retract movement of the carriages 28 and 77, the jaws 46 of the outer mold 8 and the wipers are both opened, the former by the camming action exerted by the cams 70 on the jaws through the bent levers 66 and the latter either by the return springs 100 or by the positive opening force applied through the stop pins 103.

From the above-detailed description, it will be apparent that there has been provided an improved uppershaping machine which is rugged and positive in operation and not only eifectively avoids damage to an upper either during or after shaping and is readily adapted for shaping uppers of difierent sizes and shape and adjustable in the pressures it applies but also is variable in the action of many of its elements to suit the demands of an operator. disclosed embodiment is merely exemplary of the invention and that all-modifications are intended to be in- A cluded that do not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A shoe upper shaping machine comprising a stationary inner mold, and an outer mold movable relative to and closeable on said inner mold, said outer mold including a plurality of pivoted members having separate laterally spaced pivots and together embracing an aperture for receiving said inner mold, means lining said aperture, and means on said lining means and members and responsive to a force applied through said lining means against said inner mold for forcing said outer mold to close on said inner mold.

2. A shoe upper shaping machine comprising a stationary inner mold, and an outer mold movablerelative to and having an aperture for receiving said inner mold, said outer mold being longitudinally divided into a plurality of rigid members pivotable relative to each other on separate pivots on opposite sides of a longitudinal centerline of said aperture, means lining said members about said aperture, and contacting means on said lining means and members and positioned laterally between said pivots, said contacting means being responsive to a force ap- It should be understood that the described and F plied through said lining means against said inner mold for forcing said members to pivot on said pivots in a direction to close said outer mold on said inner mold.

3. A shoe upper shaping machine comprising a stationary inner mold, and an outer mold movable relative to and having an aperture for receiving said inner mold, said outer mold being longitudinally divided into a plurality of rigid members pivotable relative to each other on separate pivots on opposite sides of a longitudinal centerline of said aperture, lining means attached at sides to said members and bounding said aperture, and bearing means on said lining means and members rearwardly of said aperture and laterally between said pivots, said bearing means on application of force through said lining means against said inner mold forcing said members to pivot on said pivots in a direction to close said outer mold on said inner mold.

4. A shoe upper shaping machine comprising a stationary inner mold, and an outer mold movable relative to and having an aperture for receiving said inner mold, said outer mold being longitudinally divided into a plurality of rigid members pivotable relative to each other on separate pivots on opposite sides of a longitudinal centerline of said aperture, lining means attached at sides to said members and bounding said aperture, a bearing block fixed to and projecting rearwardly from a back of said lining means between said pivots, and bearing means on said members and engaging a rear of said block, said bearing block and means on application of a force through said lining means against said inner mold forcing said members to pivot on said pivots in a direction to close said outer mold on said inner mold.

5. A shoe upper shaping machine comprising a stationary inner mold, and an outer mold movable relative to and having an aperture for receiving said inner mold, said outer mold being longitudinally divided into a plurality of rigid members pivotable relative to each other on separate pivots on opposite sides of a longitudinal centerline of said aperture, a flexible liner attached at sides to said members and lining said aperture, a bearing block fixed to and projecting rearwardly from a back of said liner along said longitudinal centerline and substantially coextensive with said back in a direction parallel to said pivots, a rear surface on said block and directed parallel to said pivots, and bearing means on said members rearwardly of and contacting said surface along lines parallel to said pivots for transmitting longitudinal forces between said members and a part of said liner embracing said block.

6. A shoe upper shaping machine comprising a stationary inner mold, and an outer mold movable relative to and having an aperture for receiving said inner mold, said outer mold being longitudinally divided into a plurality of rigid members pivotable relative to each other on separate pivots on opposite sides of a longitudinal centerline of said aperture, a flexible liner attached at sides to said members and lining said aperture, a bearing block fixed to and projecting rearwardly from a back of said liner along said longitudinal centerline and substantially coextensive with said back in a direction parallel to said pivots, a planar rear surface on said block perpendicular to said' centerline, and bearing means on said members rearwardly of and contacting said surface along lines parallel to said pivots for transmitting longitudinal forces between said members and a part of said liner embracing said block.

7. A shoe upper shaping machine comprising a housing, a stationary inner mold removably mounted in said housing, a carriage slideably mounted in said housing for movement longitudinally thereof relative to said inner mold, an outer mold mounted on said carriage and closeable on said inner mold, said outer mold including separately pivoted members embracing an aperture, flexible means lining said aperture, means on said members and lining means and responsive to a force applied between said lining means and inner mold for forcing said outer mold to close on said inner mold, a second carriage slideably mounted in said housing above said first carriage for movement longitudinally thereof relative to said inner mold, wiper means supported on said second carriage and positionable thereby to act against a top of said inner mold, a separate power means for independently advancing said carriages and positioning said outer mold and wiper means to act against said inner mold, and means connecting said carriages in the advanced positions thereof for enabling a retractive force applied to the first carriage by its power means to retract the second carriage therewith.

8. A shoe upper shaping machine comprising a housing, a stationary inner mold removably mounted in said housing, a carriage slideably mounted in said housing for movement longitudinally thereof relative to said inner mold, an outer mold mounted on said carriage and closeable on said inner mold, said outer mold including separately pivoted members embracing an aperture, flexible means lining said aperture, means on said members and lining means and responsive to a force applied between said lining means and inner mold for forcing said outer mold to close on said inner mold, a second carriage slideably mounted on said housing above said first carriage for movement longitudinally thereof relative to said inner mold, wiper means supported on said second carriage and positionable thereby to act against a top of said inner mold, a first power means for advancing and retracting said first carriage relative to said inner mold, a second power means for advancing said second carriage relative -to said inner mold, and means on said second carriage and engageable with means on said first carriage for limiting the advance of said second carriage, said limiting means on retraction of said first carriage by said first power means causing said second carriage to retract therewith.

9. A shoe upper shaping machine comprising a housing, a stationary inner mold removably mounted in said housing, a first carriage including a plurality of slide plates separately mounted on said housing for sliding longitudinally thereof relative to said inner mold, a first power means connected to one of said slide plates, an outer mold mounted on another slide plate, said outer mold including separately pivoted members embracing an aperture, latch means releasably connecting said slide plates, spring means acting between said slide plates and determinative of the force exerted between said molds by said first power means, a second carriage slideably mounted in said housing above said first carriage for movement longitudinally thereof relative to said inner mold, wiper means supported on said second carriage and positionable thereby to act against a top of said inner mold, a second power means for advancing said second carriage, and means connecting said carriages in the advanced positions thereof for enabling a retractive force applied to said first carriage by said first power means to retract both carriages.

10. A shoe upper shaping machine comprising a housing, a removable inner mold stationarily mounted in said housing, a first carriage including a plurality of slide plates separately mounted on said housing for sliding longitudinally thereof relative to said inner mold, a first power means connected to one of said slide plates for advancing and retracting said plate in said housing relative to said inner mold, latch means connected to another slide plate and lost-motion connected to said one plate for releasably connecting said plates and enabling said power means to retract both plates, a mounting bracket fixed to said other plate, a pair of rigid jaws embracing and on opposite sides of an aperture for receiving said inner mold, pivots separately connecting said jaws to said mounting bracket on opposite sides of a centerline of said aperture for pivoting relative to each other in a direction parallel to a bottom wall of said housing, a liner fixed at sides tosaid jaws and lining said aperture, bearing means fixed to and coextensive in height with a back of said liner and projecting rearwardly therefrom along said centerline, bearing shoulders on said jaws and coextensive in height with and contacting a rear face of said bearing means along lines parallel to said pivots for transmitting longitudinal forces between said jaws and a part of said liner embracing said bearing means, means mounted on said other plate and connected to said jaws for yieldably resisting opening and adjustably limiting the extent of closing thereof, cam means on and adjustable longitudinally of sides of said housing and engageable with means connected to said jaws for opening said jaws on a predetermined retraction of said other slide plate, a second carriage slideably mounted in said housing above said first carriage for movement longitudinally thereof relative to said inner mold, a pair of wipers mounted on an underside of said second carriage for relative pivoting about a common pivot in a direct parallel to the direction of said jaws, said wipers being advanceable with said second carriage to a position to act against a top of said inner mold, cam means pivotally mounted on said underside of said second carriage and engageable with stop means on and adjustable longitudinally of sides of said housing for closing said wipers over said top of said inner mold, spring-urged lever means mounted on said second carriage rearwardly of said cam means and acting on said wipers for yieldably resisting closing thereof, stop means on and adjustable longitudinally of said sides of said housing and engageable by said lever means on a predetermined retraction of said carriage for applying a positive force to open said wipers, a second power means for advancing said second carriage, spring means acting between said one slide plate and said mounting bracket for determining the force applied between said molds by said first power means, and means on said second carriage and engageable with means on said one slide plate for limiting the advance of said second carriage by said second power means and enabling a retractive force applied by said first power means to retract both carriages.

11. A shoe upper shaping machine comprising a housing, a removable inner mold stationarily mounted on a wall of said housing, a carriage including a pair of separately slideable slide plates mounted in said housing for movement longitudinally thereof relative to said inner mold, power means connected to one of said slide plates for imparting said relative longitudinal movement thereto, latch means releasably connecting said slide plates and operative on movement of said one slide plate away from said inner mold to move said other slide plate therewith, an outer mold mounted on said other slide plate, said outer mold including a pair of jaws embracing and positioned at opposite sides of a longitudinal centerline of an aperture for receiving said inner mold and pivotally mounted on separate pivots on opposite sides of said centerline for pivoting parallel to said bottom wall, a flexible liner attached at sides to said jaws, a bearing block fixed to and coextensive in height with a back of said liner and projecting rearwardly therefrom along said centerline, a rear face on said bearing block directed parallel to said pivots, bearing means on said jaws and contacting said rear face along lines parallel to said pivots for transmitting longitudinal forces between said jaws and a part of said liner embracing said bearing block and enabling a force applied by said power means through said liner against said inner mold to force said jaws to close on said inner mold, means yieldably resisting opening and adjustably limiting the closing of said jaws, cam means on said housing and engageable with means connected to said jaws on a predetermined movement of said carriage away from said inner mold for opening said jaws, and spring means acting between said plates for determining the force applied between said molds by said power means.

12. A shoe upper shaping machine comprising a hous- 13 ing, an inner mold releasably mounted stationarily on a bottom wall of said housing toward a front end thereof, a carriage slideably mounted in said housing for movement longitudinally thereof forwardly and rearwardly relative to said inner mold, an outer mold mounted on said carriage and having a forwardly opening aperture for receiving said inner mold, said outer mold including a pair of jaws embracing and on opposite sides of said aperture, lever means fixed to and outstanding laterally from said jaws and pivotally mounted intermediate ends thereof each on one of a pair of laterally spaced pivots positioned on opposite sides of said centerline and disposed normal to said bottom wall, means on said carriage and acting on said lever means outwardly of said pivots for yieldably resisting opening and adjustably limiting the extent of closing of said jaws, cam means on and adjustable longitudinally of sides of said housing and engageable with means carried by said lever means outwardly of said pivots on a predetermined rearward movement of said carriage for opening said jaws, a liner attached at sides to said jaws and lining said aperture, a bearing block fixed to and coextensive in height with a back of said liner and projecting rearwardly therefrom along said centerline, a rear face on said bearing block and directed parallel to said pivots, and bearing means on said jaws and contacting said rear face along lines parallel to said pivots for transmitting longitudinal forces between said jaws and a part of said liner embracing said block and enabling a force applied through said bearing block against said inner mold to cause said jaws to close thereon.

13. A shoe upper shaping machine comprising a housing, an inner mold removably mounted stationarily in said housing, a jointed outer mold mounted in said housing for movement longitudinally thereof relative to said inner mold, said outer mold including a pair of pivoted jaws having separate laterally spaced pivots and together embracing an aperture for receiving said inner mold, a liner attached at sides to said jaws and lining said aperture, means on said jaws and liner for forcing said jaws to close on said inner mold on application of a force between said liner and inner mold, a carriage slideably mounted in said housing above said outer mold, and a pair of wipers hinged to an underside of and rigid with said carriage and having flat upper faces slideably engaging a fiat surface on said underside of said carriage for backing said wipers directly by said carriage on action thereof against a top of said inner mold.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,007,182 11/1961 Lauretti 1253.5 3,051,968 9/1962 Meier 128.2 3,090,980 5/1963 Forma 1214.4 X 3,141,183 7/1964 Ralphs 128.2

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SHOE UPPER SHAPING MACHINE COMPRISING A STATIONARY INNER MOLD, AND AN OUTER MOLD MOVABLE RELATIVE TO AND CLOSEABLE ON SAID INNER MOLD, SAID OUTER MOLD INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF PIVOTED MEMBERS HAVING SEPARATE LATERALLY SPACED PIVOTS AND TOGETHER EMBRACING AN APERTURE FOR RECEIVING SAID INNER MOLD, MEANS LINING SAID APERTURE, AND MEANS ON SAID LINING MEANS AND MEMBERS AND 